Best dog-friendly waterfall hikes in Colorado
26 verified hikes from our directory of 124 Colorado waterfalls.
What we mean by dog friendly
Dog-friendly means the land manager allows leashed dogs on this specific trail. State parks and National Forests usually do; National Park trails almost never. We mark dog_friendly only when we've confirmed the policy applies to the trail, not just the parking lot.
One caveat: Leash rules are enforced. Bring a 6-foot leash, waste bags, and water for the dog. Hot rock and pavement burn paws — check temperature with your hand for 5 seconds before letting them walk on it.
Gear hint: Our dog Brook carries her own water in a fitted pack; we carry her booties for shale and hot pavement. Cold-water tail-tuck on small breeds is real — keep them out of glacial plunge pools.
The 26 picks
Each opens to a full page with trail distance, elevation gain, parking, fee, best months, and live conditions when available.
Bedrock Falls
height unverified · Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
Bessies Falls
height unverified · Flat Tops Wilderness
Big South Falls
height unverified · Comanche Peak Wilderness
Booth Falls
height unverified · Eagles Nest Wilderness
Boulder Falls
69 ft · Roosevelt National Forest
Bridal Veil Falls
height unverified · White River National Forest
Cataract Falls
height unverified · Eagles Nest Wilderness
Devil’s Punch Bowl
height unverified · Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness
Dominguez Falls
height unverified · Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
Elk Falls
height unverified · Staunton State Park
Fox Creek Falls
height unverified · Comanche Peak Wilderness
Helen Hunt Falls
height unverified · Pike National Forest
Helen Hunt Falls
height unverified · Pike National Forest
Macey Falls
height unverified · Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Maxwell Falls
height unverified · Arapaho National Forest
Missouri Falls
height unverified · Arapaho National Forest
Rifle Falls
height unverified · Rifle Falls State Park
Saint Marys Falls
height unverified · Pike National Forest
South Fork Falls
height unverified · Flat Tops Wilderness
The Chutes
height unverified · Pike National Forest
The Falls
height unverified · San Isabel National Forest
Twin Falls
height unverified · San Isabel National Forest
Venable Falls
height unverified · Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Willow Creek falls
height unverified · Eagles Nest Wilderness
Willow Creek Falls
height unverified · Eagles Nest Wilderness
Zapata Falls
height unverified · Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Before you go: 5 things we always check
- The official land manager's page for road and trail closures (linked on every individual waterfall page).
- The weather forecast for the area AND upstream — flash floods come from rain miles away.
- Recent ranger or hiker reports for slippery rock conditions.
- Whether the trail crosses a creek without a bridge — water levels change daily in snowmelt season.
- Cell coverage at the trailhead. Download offline maps in advance.
See our full safety disclaimer for the dangers we've flagged on individual waterfalls. Several have fatalities on record.